Dirty Coolant?

[sprocket]

Heyas.

Checked the coolant level today, came out brown and sticky and rank. Is this oil mixing with coolant? What does it mean?

Also, not sure if related - but yesterday and today when im going around corners or over small bumps im getting a 'knocking' noise from the front end. Shock absorbers?

thanks guys

[accentstencil]

It is probably time to flush the cooling system and refill it with the proper coolant. Can't tell much from the photo.
Worn link pin bushes could be the cause of your other problem.

[Toeludeu]

Heyas.

Checked the coolant level today, came out brown and sticky and rank. Is this oil mixing with coolant? What does it mean?

Also, not sure if related - but yesterday and today when im going around corners or over small bumps im getting a 'knocking' noise from the front end. Shock absorbers?

thanks guys

Knocking noise could be sway bar link pin bushes - easy cheap fix if it is.
Check em, you'll see if they are no good

[vxcalais_01]

Looks like a blown intake manifold gasket to me......... flush with some radiator cleaner and drain, just run water for a few days and see if it comes back ? It will start forming on the cap again if thats the case. If you use coolant, you will just waste it as it needs to come out again if you need to fix gasket.

[jonnydico]

Mine looked the same, the transmission cooler (attached to side of rad) had a small crack and was leaking into the coolent. New rad from repco $240 and new coolent fixed the prob. Manifold gasket also likely.

[fitz_vt]

lol i had something similar to this it could be as simple as what GM Holden call Coolant Biscuits, mine looked similar to this and that was the problem here. it might be that

[sprocket]

Alright thanks for the feedback. How would i check the link pin bushes? I dont really know what they are :P. Do i need to flush the whole coolant system to do what vxcalais_01 suggested?

cheers

[Baldric]

knocking noises are your top strut mounts ~$200 to replace them (parts only)
the coolant looks fine just time to replace it. if you replace it and goes gunky again time to replace head gaskets

[Baldric]

lift the bonnet and if your top suspension rubbers have a gap like this they are rooted



http://www.youtube.com/v/TYBuDwBJDyE

[vxcalais_01]

Alright thanks for the feedback. How would i check the link pin bushes? I dont really know what they are :P. Do i need to flush the whole coolant system to do what vxcalais_01 suggested?

cheers

NO, just drain it and put in some water. Drop bottom hose is enough. Then wipe the cap and the filler neck before filling. Then see how it comes back. The radiator pellets are good to use, crushed walnut shells. I always use them and do not cause that gunk. Even Bars stop leak is good to use. If you havent always owned the car, and never changed the coolant, someone could have added a stop leak to it. But the filler neck buildup makes me assume otherwise Just trial and error before spending big bucks.

If its transmission oil, it will be a reddish colour on the cap and filler neck. When i had mine the oil used to have a slight tinge in the white to whatever colour my engine oil was. I was using a red oil at that time. Changed it, started to have same colour as new oil.

[accentstencil]

Alright thanks for the feedback. How would i check the link pin bushes? I dont really know what they are :P. Do i need to flush the whole coolant system to do what vxcalais_01 suggested?

cheers

Here is a pic of the link pin.

[beegee]

I have exactly the same problem with the dirty coolant, I flushed it and it came straight back! Then I removed the intake manifold and discovered a broken gasket, cost me $50 for a new gasket set.

[gungazza]

i have the same gunk on cap

[vxcalais_01]

Gasket set for ecotec in from $80-$150 depending on how cheap you can get it. Get the whole set with plenum gasket, centre manifold gasket etc. You will also need gasket for the heater inlet pipe that comes out, and may as well change your injector o-rings while its off. Use Hylomar spray or Blue silastic sealant on the head and gasket surface. These gaskets dont seem to do well on their own. I did mine over a year ago, my brother in law did his last week, and all these people on the forums. Holden should really be paying for it.

[johnno010684]

hey guys my vt is exactly the same on the radiator cap, holden told me not to worry bout it theyre all like that! i have a ticking noise coming from no 1 cylinder, it was never loud before but now it is after giving the car a bit of a work out other night, would this be the intake gasket hole getting bigger or something being loose??

[vxcalais_01]

Could be a noisy lifter. You can try one of the LPG testers, i know you dont have gas, but the wand they put up the tail pipe to read mixtures, they can sometimes identify internal air leaks. Or pressure test. Holden are usually referring to the residue from the pellets the install into the radiator. 3 pellets will not as much gunk as is on the top picture. I have always used the pellets, and what you see it some minor brown stuff, more pieces of the crushed walnut. But not like that or when i have the inlet leak. Its built up around the filler neck. If it was the pellets, wouldnt it eventually disappear as you kept wiping it away ?

[johnno010684]

the ticking noise is hard to explain but it sounds exactly like those old crappy magnas when theyre a bit beaten up, the noise was faint when i first got the car and could only notice it when low revs in a gear before it changed down under load. its more of an oily residue on the cap and in the filler neck. i got told the ecotecs always leak a bit of oil into coolant system and its nothing to worry about from holden mechanic.

[vxcalais_01]

the ticking noise is hard to explain but it sounds exactly like those old crappy magnas when theyre a bit beaten up, the noise was faint when i first got the car and could only notice it when low revs in a gear before it changed down under load. its more of an oily residue on the cap and in the filler neck. i got told the ecotecs always leak a bit of oil into coolant system and its nothing to worry about from holden mechanic.

Yes quite a few mechanics say that, especially once your radiator stuffs up.